Old Mission Santa Barbara in Photographs
I’ll admit it, I’m phoning it in on this post – yes, it’s a photo essay on the Old Mission Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, California.
To be honest, while the mission is incredibly visually impressive it did not leave much of a lasting impression on me. The exhibits were a bit dull and dry.
So instead of boring you with the my trip report and the history of the Mission (cliffs notes version: built by Franciscan monks to convert the local indigineous populations), I’ll just be sharing some eye candy from my visit to the spectacularly beautiful mission in Santa Barbara, California and keeping my commentary to a minimum.
This is perhaps the most iconic view of the mission, as there were folks lined up here with their cameras to capture the reflection of the mission in the still waters of this old fountain.
The small chapel within the mission is still used for services to this day. On the day I visited, it was silent and empty – which was the perfect time for me to look like a fool as I tried to prop my camera on a makeshift tripod (a church donation box) to capture this HDR image of the chapel.
The entrance to the cemetery is signified by three stone skulls and crossbones – an eerie, sinister reminder of death and mortality.
Some graves in the cemetery were considerably older, while others had been buried within the last 10 or 15 years, proving that the mission isn’t just a museum or historical artifact, but a still very much a piece of the fabric of Santa Barbara.
The courtyard opens the mission up to the sky above and provides a respite from the dark and musty interiors of the mission.
By night the mission is lit up from within, giving the building an otherworldly glow.
The Franciscan friars were responsible for the construction of the mission and there are still many reminders of their presence throughout the mission.
Final Thoughts – The Old Mission Santa Barbara is a beautiful building and is certainly in much better condition than some California’s other crumbling missions, but overall it left me a little disappointed – it was not like the pleasant surprise at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse.
However, the mission’s influence on the region is undeniable. Santa Barbara owes its architectural heritage to this building as much of the city has since been built to emulate this style with white adobe and red tile roofs. This gives the entire town a unique look compared to many others along the California coast.
Is it worth visiting the mission? I think so, but perhaps my expectations were a bit too high on this one.
I’d love to know your thoughts on the photo essay. Do you have a favorite picture? Let me know in the comments.
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23 Responses to Old Mission Santa Barbara in Photographs
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The Statue has to be my favourite – What a great set of pictures
Savvy Scot recently posted..Monday Madness – Pictures / Fitness Update / Monies / My Announcement
Thanks. That statue shot was hard to get without a tripod, but it turned out alright!
Love these photos! I think old missions are fascinating.
JoAnna recently posted..Wanderlust Wednesday: Sunshine in Halong Bay
As usual, great composition!! Oh I love your photos, I’m a big fan now
You might want to put watermark on your photos 
I’ve experienced unauthorized use of my photos before and they used it for commercial purposes which is frustrating.
Ada Lajara recently posted..The Trek to Mt. Pinatubo, all worth it!
Thanks Ada! Good call on the watermark…is there a quick and easy way to batch watermark photos or do you do it to each one individually in photoshop?
I use Lightroom to batch watermark my photos. You can also try FastStone, I used this before as I didn’t know Lightroom has batch watermarking hehe
Ada Lajara recently posted..The Trek to Mt. Pinatubo, all worth it!
Awesome, thanks for the tip Ada! I don’t have either of those pieces of software, but I’ll definitely start looking into it.
If this is you ‘phoning it in’…. These are gorgeous photos! I love the interior shot of the chapel.
Dana de Brito recently posted..Tipping and Traveling
Thank you so much! I just thought my lack of writing was ‘phoning it in’. But I might start doing some more photo essays about other beautiful places that I just don’t have a ton to say about as long as people enjoy them.
certainly looks great! My favourites are of the Franciscan friars and the interior shot of the chapel!
Amer recently posted..Why we Malaysians need to travel abroad
Thanks Amer! I really like that interior shot of the chapel too. It just underscores the point that I really need to start traveling with a tripod to capture more shots like this.
I love the chapel within the mission. That’s a great picture. It’s so good, I’m pinterested!
Kae Lani recently posted..Backpacking Boston
Thanks! So is this on your pinterest account? I’m still learning what all Pinterest is about. I think I’m a bit behind the times on that.
Wow what a beautiful spot! It’s nice to see all the lovely photos…too bad the actual history in the area is dull and dried out. With such an architectural feast going on here, it seems like the history of this Mission would be rich with stories. Great photo essay though!
Thanks Ron. The history was a bit dull to me, but it could be interesting to others!
John recently posted..Travel Rinse Repeat Featured On ‘A Dangerous Business’
I love these shots! They’re outstanding! I love that of the Franciscan friar1It reminds me when I was on the Santiago way and a stick like that hang by the man!
Thanks so much Francy. The friar seems to be the favorite shot!
John recently posted..Travel Rinse Repeat Featured On ‘A Dangerous Business’
This is the way to go for photos of the Mission. Beautiful place to take pictures of and you really caught them at the perfect time of day. Great shadows and lighting and basically everything. I’ve actually only walked around the grounds of the Mission once and I didn’t have a camera so the next time I’m in town I am totally going to have to capture great photos like you did. I just remember the beautiful neighborhood that surrounded it. Those houses were gorgeous and it would be just a dream to live in that area. The mountain views and the ocean views, you really can’t beat it. I hear they hold dancing on the Mission steps during Fiesta, I bet that is awesome to see. Hopefully I can see that one day! Whenever I am in town I love staying at the Sandman Inn (www.thesandmaninn.com). Budget friendly and the way to go when looking to save money and stay in a nice place in Santa Barbara.
I timed the visit specifically for the late afternoon. The one prior time I visited it was in the late morning and the lighting was just too harsh. You’re absolutely right, the neighborhood around there is wonderful.
I just returned from running the Santa Barbara wine country half marathon. The race was actually in Saint Ynez so I didn’t get to see as much of Santa Barbara as I would have liked to, but your posts make me want to go back already! beautiful pics!
Britany recently posted..We’re Going to TBEX and We Need Your Help!!
I went into the Santa Ynez valley as well – beautiful place. I tried to go see Neverland Ranch back there but unfortunately it was just a gate – you couldn’t see anything from the road.
Why is the Mission the most beautiful thing in Santa Barbara besides the city itself? Don’t get me wrong, there are a ton of beautiful sites to see while there but this one takes the cake. Take a stroll inside and look at the art and beautiful craftsmanship, truly classic. Whenever I find myself in Santa Barbara the South Coast Inn (www.goleta-hotel.com) is the place to be. Close to the beach and a short drive away from the Mission, it’s the cherry on top of a nice and elegant vacation!
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